COVID, Immunity and Acupuncture
The COVID virus continues to circulate. As well as the coughs, colds and viruses that arrive each Autumn and Winter. Acupuncture can help you stay well and strengthen your immune system. Regular Acupuncture treatment can help you stay balanced and focused on caring for yourself in the darker Yin energy months in Autumn and Winter.
We need to care for your Immune systems:
Keep warm; wear a scarf for your neck, keep your ankles and back warm ( wear your thick socks and vest) and coat. This is very important to not get cold because if the wind and cold invade your system, your immunity is compromised, making you vulnerable to viruses. You defensive Qi (Wei Qi) may be compromised – see more about Wei Qi https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/blog/2021/09/14/strengthen-your-immune-system-with-acupuncture/
Move: keep your circulation and muscles working, circulating your blood and body fluids. Many people get too stagnant in the winter. Get out in the fresh air, wrapped up of course and move more around your home and office.
Eat well; get a good balance of nutrients, vegetables, greens, proteins, and reduce too much meat or wheat-based products. Eat mostly cooked foods in these seasons to care for your digestion. Try beans, legumes and rice, reduce or give up dairy products and wheat. Dairy products and wheat can be difficult to digest and put a strain on your digestive system, which in turn affects your immunity.
Drink well: Warm fluids – warm water, herbal teas, green tea(only a small amount of caffeine), avoid too much caffeine – just enjoy one cup of coffee or tea a day. Avoid alcohol or at least reduce it.
Avoid Smoking and Vaping; these weaken your lungs, and viruses enter your system through your lungs, so do not compromise them. Viruses can affect your lungs badly and are weaker if you smoke or tap.
Breathing exercises and Meditation; can improve lung health and calm your nervous system, in turn helping your immune system function.
Rest: If you get COVID, a cold or the flu, remember to rest as much as you can and do not mix with other people too much when you are first ill. You can expose yourself to more germs as you are vulnerable as well as sharing yours with others! Give yourself time to recover else you may keep being unwell. And get a good night’s sleep 7-9 hours regularly. Try to avoid getting exhausted put yourself first.
COVID can turn into Long COVID
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after the initial COVID-19 infection. About 30% of people who had COVID continue to experience lingering effects, even if their original illness was mild. This can be life altering for many people.
Key Risk: Pneumonia
One of the most serious complications is pneumonia, a lung infection that can become life-threatening if symptoms last longer than four weeks. It is important to keep your GP informed as to how you are.
Common Symptoms of Long COVID
There are many ways that Long Covid can affect each person: here are some examples
Fatigue; feelings of exhaustion after minimal activity, even walking a small distance, can feel like a marathon. This is often caused by ongoing inflammation and changes in how your cells produce energy.
Brain Fog; characterised by trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, and difficulty finding words, is common. This may be due to immune cells affecting brain function.
Nervous system Issues; feeling dizzy when standing, experiencing a racing heart, or noticing numbness. These symptoms may be linked to inflammation disrupting nerve signals.
Breathing Difficulties; Around 30% of people feel short of breath for up to three months — and some for much longer. Damaged lung tissue can make your chest feel heavy, even if you don’t wheeze.
Skin Rashes and New Allergies; that linger maybe for several months
Other issues; The body has been put under much strain, so other issues with organs and physical capacity may affect each person in particular ways.
Acupuncture Treatment
To help strengthen and build your immunity, to stay well into going into Autumn and Winter: contact Hannah Charles LicAc MBAcC at https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/
Hannah Charles is a founder member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)
The BAcC is an advocate for traditional acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members belong to an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website https://acupuncture.org.uk
